Rights Groups Express Outrage Over Florida Official's Remarks Following Cruel And Unusual Execution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 27, 1997
A diverse group of civil liberties and human rights organizations today demanded a halt to executions in Florida and an accounting from Florida's attorney general for vulgar and callous remarks following an electrocution that set the condemned man on fire. They also called on Florida Governor Lawton Chiles to rebuke Attorney General Bob Butterworth for his inappropriate remarks.
According to eyewitness accounts, flames up to a foot long shot from beneath the hood of prisoner Pedro Medina during his electric-chair execution on March 25, filling the death chamber with smoke and the smell of burning flesh. Responding to reports of the incident, Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth commented, "People who wish to commit murder, they'd better not do it in the state of Florida because we may have a problem with the electric chair."
The groups issued the following statement:
"The Attorney General's remarks were irresponsible, inappropriate and vulgar. As the highest-ranking law enforcement official in the state of Florida, his first concern should be making sure that the state exercises its ultimate power in a manner consistent with the limits set by the Constitution, which disallows cruel and unusual punishment."
Tuesday's incident is not the first time an execution in the state of Florida has gone awry. According to news accounts, a similar problem arose in May of 1990, during the execution of Jesse Tafero. Tafero visibly struggled as flames and smoke rose from his head, and he convulsed for four minutes before he finally died. Condoning such incidents is tantamount to condoning torture, human rights activists said.
Medina was executed Tuesday despite pleas from the Pope, and from the daughter of the woman he was accused of killing, that his life be spared. Eyewitnesses said Medina's last words were, "I am still innocent."
- American Civil Liberties Union
- American Civil Liberties Union of Florida
- American Friends Service Committee
- American Jewish Congress
- Amnesty International USA
- American Jewish Congress
- Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
- Correctional Association of New York
- D.C. Prisoners' Legal Services Project
- D.C. Public Defender Service
- Friends Committee on National Legislation
- Human Rights Watch
- Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- National Black Police Association
- National Center on Institutions and Alternatives
- National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
- National Committee Against Repressive Legislation
- National Execution Alert Network
- National Legal Aid and Defender Association
- New Mexico Committee to Stop Executions
- New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Prisoner's Legal Services of New York
- Steve Martin, Former Member, Texas Punishment Standards Commission
- The United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society, Ministry of God's Human Community
- Union of American Hebrew Congregations
TAKE ACTION!
The ACLU believes that this is yet another example of barbaric nature of the death penalty. We urge you to call Florida Governor Lawton Chiles at (904) 488-4441 and voice your support for the ACLU's position against the death penalty.
